The title sponsor, organizers, and official charity of the UBS Hong Kong Open 2016 have announced the latest fundraising totals ahead of the second annual UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup on Wednesday, 14 December, at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.

 

Last year, the inaugural tournament raised more than HKD2.3 million, setting the record on the European Tour for funds raised. The record was broken when former UBS Hong Kong Open winner, Rory McIlroy, donated his winnings from the Irish Open to his eponymous foundation.

 

This year’s Charity Cup is on track to break last year’s fundraising total following the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup Dinner held on the golf course at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Deep Water Bay clubhouse on Tuesday, 6 December.

 

The HKD500,000 raised at the dinner will be matched by Friends of Asia Hong Kong, the official charity of the UBS Hong Kong Open and an organizing partner of the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup.

 

The early total grew by HKD180,000 at last night’s finale of the UBS Hong Kong Open’s HK18 Putting Challenge at The Hong Kong Observation Wheel in Central boosted by a donation of 90,000 HKD from the Hong Kong Golf Club matched by Friends of Asia.

 

Registration (200 players) for the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup is nearly full with the few remaining flights expected to be filled this weekend.

 

Friends of Asia has once again pledged to match the total funds raised from the Charity Cup tournament dollar for dollar, and is also supporting the European Tour’s Birdies for Good charity initiative this weekend which sees funds raised for every birdie, eagle, albatross and hole-in-one made by the professionals across the four tournament days.

 

Friends of Asia and the four charitable beneficiaries in 2016 are also encouraging donations in the Spectators Village throughout the UBS Hong Kong Open week to further increase the fundraising amounts.

 

With nearly 1.2 million raised before tee-off, the organizers are confident of bettering last year’s total. The Charity Cup has also received the endorsement of Canto-pop artist and impresario Alan Tam in 2016. His support has also helped to raise the profile of the four charity beneficiaries: InspiringHK Sports Foundation; Playright Children’s Play Association; the Autism Partnership Foundation; and The Hub Hong Kong, a centre that provides developmental, recreational and social programmes for disadvantaged children in Sham Shui Po, is the newest beneficiary for 2016.

 

Mr Tam will take part in the tournament’s official tee-off ceremony at 12.30 on 14 December, alongside Dr Caleb Chan, Founder of Friends of Asia Hong Kong; Mr Kenneth Lam, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club; and Ms Amy Lo, Head of UBS Wealth Management Greater China and Country Head of UBS Hong Kong, title sponsors of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

 

“We are overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of support for the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup from our event partners and the public at large. With a successful Charity Cup dinner staged earlier this week and the tournament approaching full registration, we remain on track to better even last year’s excellent figures,” said Dr Chan.

 

The Hong Kong Golf Club will once again maintain the Championship Course layout used by the professional players during the UBS Hong Kong Open for the Charity Cup.

 

“The Hong Kong Golf Club and its members are delighted to endorse this worthy cause, which reinforces our own long-standing efforts to support the local community and attract new participants to the game of golf. Having taken part last year, the Charity Cup is truly a special day and I and many of my fellow club members look forward to joining all of the participants once again next week,” said Mr Lam.

 

Mr Bjoern Waespe, Managing Director of UBS Brand Activation, Sponsorship and Events, commented on the initiative, saying: “Supporting the communities in which we operate is an essential part of all UBS sponsorships worldwide. The success of the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup adds tremendous value to the tournament and contributes to the shared goal of all of the organizers to ensure that the UBS Hong Kong Open leaves a lasting and positive legacy in the community.”